Adjustable head-section for beds



(No Model.)

L. H. STEFFEY. ADJUSTABLE HEAD SECTION FOR BEDS.

No. 471,764. Patented Mar. 29,1 1892..

will 1 I a? Tu l E w J J luZfienE/Stq ey I v proved bed in its normal position.

' UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Orrrcn.

LUTHER H. STEFFEY, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

ADJ USTABLE HEAD-SECTION FOR BEDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 471,764, dated March 29, 1892.

Application filed July 13, 1891. Serial No. 399,386. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER H. STEFFEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented a new and useful Invalid-Bed, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to beds more especially adapted for invalidsg'and the object of the same is to effect certain improvements therein.

To this end the invention consists in the specific details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of this im- Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof when raised. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the journals, with' the rack-bar in section and the pawl out of engagement therewith. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail of one end of the shaft, the gear thereon, the crank, the yoke, a portion of the rack-bar, and the pawl engaging the same.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter F designates the frame of this improved bed, which may be supported by legs L, as seen in Fig. 1, or may be placed upon or within the frame of an ordinary bedstead. This frame supports the spring-bed, which comprises side pieces P, cross-bars B, a fabric or flexible top T, and the usual bed-springs S upon the bars beneath the top. The lower end or foot portion of the spring-bed is rigidly mounted on the frame; but the upper or head portion thereof, bearing the letters P, B, S, and T, is disconnected from the frame, but hinged to the lower or foot portion, as at H, so that it can be raised, as seen in Fig. 2.

The letter R designates a rack-bar, of which there is one at each side of the bed, pivoted, as at r, at its upper end (which is curved, as at R, with respect to its body) to the inside of the side piece P, and N is a notch in this side piece adjacent said pivot.

O is an operating-shaft mounted in journals or bearings J on the frame F and having squared ends E, adapted to pass through the notches N and be engaged by a removable crank G, as will be understood; and on this shaft are gear-wheels G, turning within the journals J, which are slotted, as seen,for this purpose, the said gears engaging the rack-bars and raising the head-piece when the shaft 0 is turned by the crank O in the hands of an operator.

Within each journal a yoke Y is pivoted on'the shaft 0, and in the outer end of this yoke is a small wheel W, bearing against the back of the rack-bar in whatever position the latter may stand, the yoke turning to permit the said wheel W to engage the back of the rack-bar at all times. In each hearing are pivoted the side bars of a double pawl D, and the outer ends or tips of the pawls are connected by a rod d, whereby both pawls may be operated simultaneously from either side of the bed, the tips of the pawls obviously taking into the teeth of the rack-bars and holding the head-piece at any desired elevation after it has-been raised.

The operation is obvious, and after using the crank it may be stored away. The rackbars are out of sight when the bed is flat, their bends R causing them to fold up inside the side pieces, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

This improved bed permits the raising of an invalid to a sitting posture without disturbing him or using the hands on his person, and in this respect I consider it valuable.

The parts are of'any desired size and material, and considerable change in and addition to the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

A material feature of my invention resides in the pivoted yokes which carry wheels to bear against the edge of the rack-bars. By reason of the yokes being pivoted they follow the movements of the rack-bars in turning from a vertical to a horizontal position.

I claim as the salient features- 1. In an invalid-bed, the combination, with the main supporting-frame, the hinged frame, and rack-bars having straight bodies and curved upper ends pivoted at their upper ends to the hinged frame, of an operating-shaft j our naled in the main frame, pivoted yokes mounted on the shaft and carrying wheels bearing gear-wheels fast on the shaft and engaging said rack-bars, substantially as described.

2. In an invalid-bed, the combination, with and gear-whee1s fast on the shaft and engagthe main supporting-frame, the spring-bed ing said rack-bars, substantially as hereinloeframe connected by hinges with the main fore described. frame, and rack-bars having straight bodies In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 5 and curved upper ends pivoted inside the side my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 15 pieces of the spring-bed frame near their uppresence of two Witnesses.

per edges, of journals on the main frame, an LUTHER H. STEFFEY. operating-shaft passing through said journals, WVitnesses: yokes pivoted 0n the shaft and carrying wheels R. H. DALTON,

I 0 bearing against the rear edges of the rack-bars, R. BIGSBY. 

